Skirt or train lifter.



PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

H. M. TODD.- SKIRT 0R TRAIN LIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAIL. Z. 1903.

no MODEL.

avwemtoz wit attozml o UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

HELEN M. TODD, OF ORWELLQVERMONYT.

SKIRT OR TRAIN LIFTER.

- $PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Ila-724,758, dated April 7, 1903.

Application filed January 2, 1903. Serial No- 137,580. (No model) thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to skirt and train lifters; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a device adapted to raise and drop the back and side breadths of womens skirts without the necessity of using the hand on the said breadths. This is to be accomplished without offering inconvenience to the wearer and can be easily and quickly done. The breadths in mention are those that are apt to come in contact with the ground and wear and soil quickly, thus preventing the said breadths from becoming muddy or dust-begrimed and avoiding the necessity of placing on new bindings at frequent intervals.

The invention consists, primarily, of a wire frame adapted to be attached in the back of the skirt, said frame being provided with suit able loops, through which pass suitable tapes or cords, the upper ends of the tapes or cords being adapted to be tied together or otherwise secured at the waist of the wearer, the lower ends of the said tapes or cords supporting a second series of tapes or cords, which are attached at their lower ends to the lower portion of the skirt.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skirt, showing the upper endsof the upper series of tapes projecting therefrom. Fig. 2 is a View of a skirt turned inside out, showing the location and arrangement of the various parts of the lifter. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wire frame.

The frame 1 is made,preferably,from springwire, the said frame consisting of a single wire bent in the peculiar form as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At the upwardly-extending ends of the wire the loops 2 2 are formed, through which the said frame is sewed to the waistband of the skirt. The loops 3 3 are located opposite each other in a line drawn across the frame 1, the distance between the said loops 3 3 constituting the extreme breadth of the frame 1. The loops 4 4 are 10- cated'between the loops 3 3 and a little below the same. The tape or cord 5 passes through the loops 3 3 and then up through the openings 6 6, provided in the sides of the skirt. The said tape then passes around the front of the waist of the wearer. The lower ends of the tape 5 are provided with the eyes 7 7. The tapes or cords 8 8 pass through the eyes 7 7 and are secured at their lower ends to the lower portion of the skirt, as shown in Fig. 2. -The tapes 9 9 pass through the eyes 4 4 and 3 3 and also through the openings 6 6 and are secured together at their upper ends by any suitable means and rest in front of the waist of the wearer. The lower ends of the tapes 9 9 are provided with the eyes 10 10, through which pass the tapes 11 11, the lower ends of the said tapes 11 11 being also secured to the lower portion of the skirt, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is obvious that when the upper ends of the tapes 9 9 are drawn the rear lower portion of the skirt will be elevated, and by reversing the operation the rear lower portion of the skirt may be lowered, and this can be done without necessitating the wearer to touch with the hand the back or side breadths. The wearer may also simply draw the tapes 9 9, which will elevate the intermediate portion of the lower edge of the skirt, or by drawing the tape 5 the sides of the skirt are raised. The upper edges of the loops 3 3 may be turned outward far enough to'protect the tapes or cords passing through them from the weight of plaits or gathers that. would otherwise rest upon them and wear them out, and the upper edges of the loops 4 4 may also be turned slightly outward for the same reason.

If desired, suitable clasps may be attached. to the upper ends of the tapes 5 5 and 9 9, by

means of which the said ends may be quickly adjusted and secured together, thus leaving the hands of the wearer free.

The portions of the frame 1 between the loops 2, 3, and 4 are curved in toward the center of the said frame for the purpose of bracing the structure and to prevent bending of the wire constituting the frame when the tapes are operated.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A skirt-lifter consisting of a frame made from a single piece of wire having upwardlyextending ends with loops formed at the extremities thereof, loops formed at the sides of the frame, said loops being opposite each other in a line drawn across the frame, the

distance between the said loops constituting the extreme breadth of the frame, loops located between the last said loops, and below the same; tapes passing through said loops and through openings in the side of the skirt and around the waist of the wearer, said loops serving as guides for the said tapes, the lower ends of the tapes being connected to the lower portion of the skirt.

2. A skirt-lifter consisting of a frame made from a single piece of wire having upwardlyextending ends with loops formed at the extremities thereof, loops formed at the sides of the frame, said loops being opposite each other in a line drawn across the frame, the distance between the said loops constituting the extreme breadth of the frame, loops cated between the last said loops and ob iiquely below the same and in alinement perpendicularly with the loops at the extremities of the upwardly-extending portions of the frame; tapes passing through said loops and through openingsin the side of the skirt and around the waist of the wearer, said loops serving as guides for the said tapes, the lower ends of the tapes being connected to the lower portion of the skirt.

3. A skirt-lifter consisting of a frame made from a single piece of wire having upwardlyextending ends with loops formed at the extremities thereof, loops formed at the sides of the frame, loops located between the last said loops and below the same, the portions of the frame between the loops being bent in toward the center of the frame, tapes passing through said loops and through openings in the side of the skirt and around the waist of the wearer, said loops serving as guides for the said tapes, the lower ends of the tapes being connected to the lower portion'of the skirt.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HELEN M. TODD.

Witnesses:

W. B. FRENCH, M. R. WHITTAKER. 

